Greensboro, Pittsford: Nick Watney fired a five-under par 65 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over Brad Fritsch after three rounds of the US PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship.
Watney, who won the last of his five US PGA Tour titles at the 2012 Barclays, had a 54-hole total of 14-under par 196 at Sedgefield Country Club.
Canada’s Fritsch, who also signed for a 65, was a stroke back on 197.
Sweden’s Freddie Jacobson fired a 66 to join overnight co-leader Heath Slocum on 198. Slocum slipped back with a two-under 68.
Slocum needs a third-place finish in the US tour’s final regular-season tournament to qualify for the FedExCup playoffs, which start next week with the Barclays.
Scott Langley, who was tied with Slocum after 36 holes, managed a one-under 69 and slipped into a tie for fifth on 199.
Brandt Snedeker, the 2007 champion, and 2011 winner Webb Simpson both shot 66s to join Langley.
After two birdies in the first nine holes, Watney added three more birdies coming home, capping his round with a birdie at 18 that took him past early pacesetter Fritsch.
Fritsch also played without a bogey, his round highlighted by an eagle two at the par-four eighth.
Fritsch goes into the weekend seeking his first US tour title — and a rise from 163rd in the FedEx Cup standings into the top 125 who advance to the playoff series.
Argentina’s Andres Romero had the best round of the day, a 64 that put him in a group of six players on 200. That group also included Scotland’s Martin Laird and first-round leader Camilo Villegas of Colombia.
Brittany Lincicome, who is chasing her first USLPGA title since 2011, posted a one-under 71 to maintain the lead at the LPGA Championship on Saturday.
The American finished 54 holes at Monroe Golf Club at 10-under-par 206, with former world number one and defending champion Park In-Bee and Norway’s Suzann Pettersen a shot back on 207.
Lincicome, a five-time winner on the LPGA Tour is trying to become the fourth consecutive American to win a major this season, joining Lexi Thompson (Kraft Nabisco Championship), Michelle Wie (US Open) and Mo Martin (British Open).
Her resume already includes a major title at the 2009 Kraft Nabisco, but her last win came three years ago at the ShopRite Classic.
South Korea’s Park kept Lincicome in her sights with a third-round 69, while Pettersen, the 2007 LPGA Championship winner, posted a 67.
South Korea’s Lee Mi-Rim (69), who won last week at the Meijer Classic, was alone in fourth at seven-under par.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko (71), Gerina Piller (69) and Meena Lee (71) were tied for fifth on six-under 210.
Ko, seeking a first major title at the age of 17, could overtake Stacy Lewis atop the world rankings with a win this week.
